Overheard my neighbor's kid say something that stuck with me

I was walking my dog last Tuesday and heard this kid, maybe 10 years old, tell his mom he hates being the funny one at school because nobody takes him seriously. Hit me hard because I do the same thing at work. I crack jokes in meetings, make everyone laugh, but when I actually need help with a project or want to share something real, people just smile and move on. It's like I painted myself into a corner with my own act. I started thinking about what it would be like to just be quiet for once and see if anyone notices. Has anyone else realized they use humor as a shield and then regret it later?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly38520d agoTop Commenter

Dude, I gotta push back a little. My older brother was the class clown all through school, same thing where people wouldn't take him seriously on serious stuff. But he leaned into it and started using humor to actually make people listen, like he'd drop a joke, then pause and say "no but really" and people actually paid attention. It's not that you have to stop being funny, you just gotta switch it up sometimes and be real for a minute. The kid's mom shoulda told him that.

wesleyb2019d ago

Jumping off what kelly385 said, I actually think the kid's mom probably did tell him something like that, we just didn't hear the whole conversation. Parents usually try to give their kids advice, but a 10 year old isn't always gonna take it to heart right away. It's tough because at that age you're still figuring out who you are and humor is such an easy way to get people to like you fast. The trick is learning to turn it on and off, like kelly385's brother did, not just ditching it completely.

parker_palmer4420d agoMost Upvoted

My uncle's name is Frank and he was the exact same way in his 20s, told me once he felt like a court jester at his construction job. But here's the thing nobody's saying - maybe the people around you aren't worth impressing if they only see the punchline and never the person behind it. The kid at school and you at work might both be trying to fit into rooms that don't actually want the real you. I'm not saying go full silent treatment tomorrow, but maybe test the waters with one person who seems like they actually have a brain and see if they bite on the serious version of you. If they don't, it's not your humor that's the problem, it's them.